David Price - A Bomber Crew Mystery: The Forgotten Heroes of 388th Bombardment Group

The Forgotten Heroes of 388th Bombardment Group

David Price

First published in Great Britain in 2016 by

Pen & Sword Aviation

an imprint of

Pen & Sword Books Ltd

47 Church Street

Barnsley

South Yorkshire

S70 2AS

Copyright David Price 2016

ISBN 978 1 47387 046 8

eISBN 978 1 47387 048 2

Mobi ISBN 978 1 47387 047 5

The right of David Price to be identified as the Author of this Work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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T hey say time is not on our side, and each day we lose more warriors and the stories of the accomplishments of a generation of B-17 crews in the skies of Europe over 70 years ago.

We want to understand what it was like for these men to leave the security of their families, homes and jobs to defend a continent across the Atlantic in loud, cold, and vulnerable aircraft knowing that they may never return. Who were they, and why did they do what they did?

This book peers into their world. It takes the reader on a journey and introduces a mystery that reaches from a small store in Scotland to the skies over Germany and back. Along the way, you will get a glimpse into what it was like to fly over the British countryside en route to war as a pilot or crew member of a B-17. It examines the view from the cockpit of a high-speed German fighter as it stalks the B-17s and explores what it must have felt like to experience post-traumatic stress disorder, or lose a close friend in horrible circumstances. After all this is the triumphant feeling of having survived when the odds were stacked against you.

Having flown Air Force F-16s in combat during three conflicts, I have a profound respect for the men of the 388th Bomb Group who overcame their natural fear with unnatural courage. Combat is different for everyone, but without question, the men behind the bomber crew mystery and hundreds of others like them, were tested to their limits. I too have been shot at by a persistent enemy, but Davids insight quickly reminded me of how my experiences paled in comparison to theirs, and just how vulnerable and brave these men were.

As the current President of the 388th Bomb Group Association, I am always amazed at the men who continue to join the annual reunions that have been a source of camaraderie and fellowship for decades. As their numbers unfortunately fade with each passing day, it is even more important to carry on their legacy. David Price does just that, and in an amazing way. Besides learning history that I had not known before, this story moved me; and I could not put the book down. As I followed the clues to the mystery, I found myself in awe, in joy, and, at times, in tears. David selflessly took on this compelling mystery, and in the process, paid a humble tribute to the men behind it. The mystery continues, so turn the page and join the ride. You wont be disappointed.

Scott Long

President, 388th Bomb Group Association

Colonel (Ret), USAF

T he B-17 bombers were all now waiting. One hundred and twelve Wright Cyclone engines wheeled and chuntered, propellers spiralling in the early June air. It is early morning and the brown discolouration of the air around the B-17s from the exhausts is perceptible around the lifting dawn. In as tidy a queue as they can muster, they trundle along the peri tracks towards the runway in a pre-arranged waltz, a little correction here, a small turn there, each pilot watching acutely the plane in front; close, but not too close. The runway is reached and, after a short wait, a green flare arcs its message; its time to go. As the lead plane accelerates down the runway, the next takes its place to take off, a gap of thirty seconds between each rolling, thundering chorus leader.

First Lieutenant Johnnie Colburn waits his turn in the second group, 388-B Group. Today is special because for the Colburn crew it is their first combat mission. Two years of training and preparation consummate into this moment; they are doing what they came here for. Johnnie has officially flown two missions before this, both of them a few days before with a different crew. The first ended abruptly as Johnnie had to abort the take-off because of a technical problem and the second to Boulogne, a short hop across the English Channel, was fairly uneventful. Unknown to them all is that they are about to be written into history, for today is not just any day, today is 4 June 1944. Perhaps for the many thousands involved today, it is another day and, like any war, they have no idea of the workings of their higher command. In some cases, many years will pass before their story is written or understood. The Colburn crew do not have time to think any such romantic notions; they are concentrating. Nobody wants to screw up on their first mission and, although they have rehearsed this many times, the feelings of excitement and anxiety are pushed down in order to get on with the job in hand. What many of them fear is that they will become afraid and in this condition let down their crew.

Eyes scan the instruments in the cockpit engine tachos, oil temperature and fuel gauges. Ears are fine-tuned to the noises of the aircraft, listening, sensing what is happening and whether it feels right. They are aware too of their heart rate and the expectancy in the pit of their stomachs they just want to fly; to get on with it.

The queue shortens as one by one the B-17s roll down the runway and ahead Colburn watches B-17 Wizard of Oz starting the take-off run, an aircraft that fewer than three weeks later he will fly and see lost in circumstances few could imagine. Almost before the mist of daylight comes between the wheels and the runway of the aircraft ahead, Johnnie knows instinctively its his turn. He barely need exchange a glance with his copilot, Charles (Russ) Weekes; they know the drill and now its time. Finally. With a firm motion the four throttle levers are moved backwards and the four engines evolve from a deep settling chatter to a musical note. The pilots are still hard on the brakes as the aircraft begins to vibrate from nose to tail. In a few seconds the brakes are released and, as the speed picks up, the whole of their surroundings reverberates with physical sound. The Wright Cyclones produce a deep thunder, a comforting and powerful sound, a tone that guarantees their take-off. The tail begins to lift although perhaps imperceptibly to most of the crew as B-17 44-0691 Lotta Bull prepares herself for flight. A loaded B-17 tends to take off with the nose up by some margin. In the tail gun position, 20-year-old Frank Nutt notices the tail lift a little as the tail wheel underneath him loses contact, and he watches the B-17 behind him get smaller and smaller in the dawn as the runway begins to rush from underneath and behind him.